Houthi leader pleads for int’l recognition of his militia

Leader
of the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, Abdul Malek al-Houthi, has pleaded
once again for international recognition of his coup.

In
a speech on Saturday, al-Houthi urged the international community to follow in
Iran’s example and recognize the militias by reopening embassies in Sanaa and
activating diplomatic ties with the militias seeing as they are the
“legitimate” rulers in Yemen.

He
proposed a compromise so Houthis would cease launching Iranian-made drones
towards Saudi Arabia in return for the Saudi-led Arab coalition to quit
supporting the legitimate government in Yemen.

A
Houthi delegation, headed by militia foreign minister Mohammed Abdulsalam, is currently
in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials. It met with Khamenei to deliver a
message from Abdul Malek as well as Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif.

Observers
said that besides pledging allegiance, the visit is aimed at obtaining more
weapons support from Iran by the Houthis and smuggling them in Yemen.

Abdul
Malek said Iran was the only country that sympathizes with the Houthis,
claiming the delegation was seeking to activate some 70 deals signed with
Tehran.